2DAYS Everything Nara! Course

A World Heritage site, this venerable shrine will enchant visitors with its striking vermilion columns and stone lanterns set amidst a primeval forest as old as time. Thanks to a traditional rebuilding ceremony that takes place every twenty years, the buildings are in pristine condition over a millenia after the shrine's inception. A divine site that will truly take your breath away.

Located in Nara City, Nara Park is a must-see tourist spot and takes pride in its many historical and cultural national treasures. The deer are said to be the gods’ messengers and roam freely around the city. This remarkable and charming sight awaits you.

One of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples, Todaiji houses the majestic Great Buddha, said to be one of the world's largest gilt bronze Buddha statues, along with a host of other National Treasures from mighty gates to striking guardian statues. Explore the temple's vast grounds and transport yourself back to the days when Nara was Japan's ancient capital.

Boasting one of Japan's largest collections of Buddhist art, this museum's permanent collection is a trove of sculptures, paintings, scrolls, ceremonial items and other historical treasures. In addition to the permanent exhibition, special exhibitions give visitors a look at a wide variety of relics, centered around masterworks of Buddhist artistry.

Located just beyond Nara Park, this World Heritage site boasts Japan's second-tallest five-story pagoda and a host of other national treasures, including a world-renowned lacquer statue of Ashura. Its Southern Round Hall (designated an Important Cultural Property) is particularly striking at sunset.

5 Higashimuki Minamimachi, Nara-shi, Nara

You won't want to leave Nara without trying these two of the ancient capital's delicacies. Sushi is a familiar treat, but wrapped in a persimmon leaf which serves to impart its own delicate aroma to the rice, it becomes a whole new delicacy. Then there's chagayu, a porridge of rice and green tea with a sensitive flavor that embodies the spirit of simple is best.

Gangoji Temple originated as Asukadera Temple (Hoko-ji Temple), the first authentic temple in Japan, before being moved and rebuilt on its current site as part of the ancient capital of Heijo-kyo. Its Gokuraku-do Hall (Main Hall) and the Zen Room are designated as National Treasures, as is the five-storied pagoda in the Horinkan Hall—a site not to be missed. With flowers blooming year-round, the scenery of the temple can be enjoyed in all four seasons. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998.

The city of Nara's historic central area is sure to charm visitors with the meticulously-preserved traditional townhouses and their charming tiled roofs found throughout the narrow lanes. Many of the former residences have been converted into museums, giving visitors a window into the lives of the Japanese in the Edo and Meiji Eras (17th- to 19th-century), alongside modern coffee shops, galleries, and boutiques.

At Edogawa in central Naramachi, feast on freshwater eel—one of the true delicacies of Japanese cuisine—in the exquisite setting of a 140-year-old, reformed former kimono shop. Other Japanese favorites like tempura, sashimi, and the local dish Asuka nabe (a type of hot pot) are available at reasonable prices. A perfect venue to enjoy lunch or dinner.

A centerpiece among the many ancient wonders in Asuka village, this mighty burial tomb dates back to the turn of the 7th-8th centuries. Discovered in the 1960s by a local famer, the tomb⁠—believed to be a resting place for emperors or noblemen—housed brilliant fresco wall paintings which have been excavated and designated as National Treasures. Replicas of the tomb itself, its paintings and other relics can be admired at a gallery on the premises.

One of the many enigmatic artifacts of Japan's distant past in Asuka village, this megalith has been carved with the face of a smiling turtle. A terrifying legend has it that the turtle once faced north, but now faces south, and if it ever faces west, all of Japan will be reduced to mud.

Dating back to the 8th century, the Man'yōshū is the most ancient and famous anthology of classical Japanese tanka (tanka meaning short poems). This modern museum showcases these works with exhibits depicting life in the Asuka and Nara periods, the era when the poems originated. Take a unique look far back into Japan's cultural legacy. You also won't want to miss the exhibition of traditional Japanese-style paintings (nihonga).

Constructed shortly after Buddhism came to Japan, this temple houses the nation's oldest great Buddha statue, dating to the year 609. Though only a few buildings remain of the once-sprawling complex, the Korean and mainland-influenced structures and sculptures at this venerable worship site offer visitors a remarkable window into the Japanese Buddhism's earliest days.

Enjoy a tasteful and relaxing time at this café in Asuka set in a renovated former sake brewery almost 200 years old. Make a reservation for lunch and you'll be treated to a sumptuous course of local delicacies. After your meal, enjoy a drink as you take in the retro decor and feel yourself slipping back in time.

Resembling a great stage carved of rock, this stone burial mound is believed to be the home of Soga no Umako, an influential figure in the promotion of Japanese Buddhism. A striking sight in any season, it is a particularly attractive destination in spring, when it plays home to cherry blossom-viewing events illuminated at night and live music concerts.

A key pilgrimage site for the Shugendo sect of mountain ascetics, Kinpusen-ji in the Yoshino region—sung of in poems for its cherry blossoms since medieval times—is a place of religious significance and striking natural beauty. Admire the fierce statues of the protector deity Zao Gongen, or take part in Shugendo workshops in your own quest for enlightenment.

Resting on the side of Mount Yoshino, a famed cherry blossom-viewing spot, lie historic shrines frequented by emperors and warlords throughout the centuries. One such place is Yoshimizu-jinja. Visit in spring to take in the sight of a thousand trees' worth of pink blossoms, just as Toyotomi Hideyoshi once did, or come in fall for spectacular autumn foliage in burning hues of red and gold.